Neff: Taxes, without gay equality

[WillParkinson]

Neff: Taxes, without gay equality
Lisa Neff
By Lisa Neff, columnist, 365gay.com
04.13.2010 7:53am EDT

Tax day is just days away, and I have yet to file my federal income tax return.

I can remember a time when I filed in early January, soon after I received my wage-income documents from my employers. I was eager to file, because I felt patriotic paying my taxes, even in those years when I disagreed with the direction of the administration or Congress or both. I also usually received a refund, and still do.

But these past years, I’ve put off filing because I hate checking “single” for my marital status. Sixteen years into my relationship, I just don’t feel single.

Many same-sex couples marry their finances when they commit to one another, but tax-time requires us to either pay twice — on each partner’s return — or go through a sort of financial divorce for accounting purposes.

How many of us in relationships value the independent nature of our partner, but hope for the day when we can file joint income tax statements, when gay couples don’t have to discuss assigning dependent children to one parent or the other?

Partnered for six months, a year, a decade or a half-century, we file individually, we check “single” and we discuss how to divide our income and expenses, dividends and deductions.

Even same-sex couples who are legally married cannot file joint federal income tax returns, because the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing their relationships.

http://www.365gay.com/opinion/neff-taxes-without-gay-equality/

[sui generis]

1. I always snark in the comments for my on-line filings

I fucking hate the IRS and they know it and have in writing many times over.

Anything that requires I submit written materials always includes digs and commentary. Tell them exactly what you think - it's not illegal and it will make you feel better.

The best part is though, don't use the IRS to justify your relationship label. Use it to stick a pin in their ribs - especially if by being "forced" to file singly you are able to keep more money from going to the IRS than filing as married. If you can make that case without too much trouble, point it out. Underline it in red.

And laugh in their face.

A tarnished silver lining is still a silver lining . . . .

[WillParkinson]

2. Next tax season I certainly hope you will repost this!

Paul and I had already filed before our wedding. It'll be nice to have this as a reminder come next year.

Assuming DOMA isn't overturned...riiiiight.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. I'll go one better than that

A lesbian couple I know did the following: The house was in the name of one of the women and it was underwater. They bought it for $500K and it dropped in to $220K. They let it go to foreclosure and the woman whose name was not on the note bought it at auction for $90K.